Larry O'Brien facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larry O'Brien
O'Brien in 1961
3rd Commissioner of the NBA
In office June 1, 1975 – January 31, 1984
Preceded by	J. Walter Kennedy
Succeeded by	David Stern
Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office March 5, 1970 – July 14, 1972
Preceded by	Fred R. Harris
Succeeded by	Jean Westwood
In office August 30, 1968 – January 14, 1969
Preceded by	John Moran Bailey
Succeeded by	Fred R. Harris
57th United States Postmaster General
In office November 3, 1965 – April 10, 1968
President	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	John A. Gronouski
Succeeded by	W. Marvin Watson
Personal details
Born	Lawrence Francis O'Brien Jr. (1917-07-07)July 7, 1917 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 28, 1990(1990-09-28) (aged 73) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Elva Brassard ​ (m. 1945)​
Children	1
Education	Northeastern University (LLB)

Lawrence Francis O'Brien Jr. (July 7, 1917 – September 28, 1990) was an important American politician and a basketball leader. He was a top planner for the Democratic Party for over 20 years. He served as the Postmaster General under President Lyndon B. Johnson. He also led the Democratic National Committee. Later, he became the commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1975 to 1984. The NBA Championship Trophy is named after him.

Larry O'Brien was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. His parents were immigrants from Ireland. When he was not working in politics, O'Brien managed his family's real estate and worked in public relations.

Early Life and Political Career

Larry O'Brien was born on July 7, 1917, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He learned about politics at a young age. His father was a local leader for the Democratic Party. When Larry was 11, his father asked him to volunteer for the 1928 presidential campaign of Al Smith. O'Brien became a strong supporter of the Democratic Party.

He earned a law degree in 1942 from Northeastern University. In 1945, O'Brien married Elva Brassard. They had one son, Lawrence F. O'Brien III.

Working with John F. Kennedy

In the 1950s, O'Brien became a key political organizer. His friend Foster Furcolo asked him to direct election campaigns for the United States House of Representatives. In 1952, John F. Kennedy chose O'Brien to direct his successful campaign for the United States Senate. O'Brien also led Kennedy's successful re-election campaign in 1958. Kennedy's wins were largely due to O'Brien's ability to find and use volunteers. He made sure to reach voters in every part of the state.

In 1959, O'Brien started planning for Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. He traveled across the United States to connect with Democratic leaders in different states. O'Brien became Kennedy's national campaign director. His planning in important primary states like Wisconsin and West Virginia helped ease worries about Kennedy being Catholic.

After Kennedy was elected, O'Brien helped choose staff for the new administration. In 1961, he became a special assistant to the president. He worked on relations with the United States Congress. O'Brien was one of President Kennedy's most trusted advisors. His campaign ideas helped change how the Democratic Party ran elections.

Witnessing History and Working with Lyndon B. Johnson

In November 1963, O'Brien was with President Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy on their trip to Texas. He was in the motorcade in Dallas and saw the assassination of President Kennedy. After the president died, O'Brien went with the coffin and Jackie Kennedy back to Air Force One. On the plane, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked O'Brien to stay and work with him. O'Brien agreed and continued to work at the White House.

In 1964, President Johnson chose O'Brien to direct his campaign. After Johnson won, O'Brien continued as a special assistant. In 1965, he was appointed United States Postmaster General.

Leading the Democratic National Committee

In 1968, after Johnson decided not to run again, O'Brien became an advisor for Senator Robert F. Kennedy's campaign. After Robert Kennedy was assassinated, Vice President Hubert Humphrey hired O'Brien to direct his presidential campaign.

O'Brien was also elected as the national chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 1968. He was re-elected as chairman in 1970. In this role, he became a central figure during the 1972 election. The DNC Lawrence O'Brien Award was created in 1992 to honor his many years of service to the party. It also recognized his belief in the importance of volunteers.

As Postmaster General, O'Brien made changes to how mail was transported. In 1967, the Post Office Department stopped many "mail by rail" contracts. They decided to move First Class mail by air and road instead. This change greatly affected passenger train companies.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration named the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery in his memory in 2004.

NBA Commissioner

Larry O'Brien was appointed commissioner of the NBA in 1975. During his time, he oversaw the ABA–NBA merger. This brought new teams and players into the league. He also made a deal for NBA games to be broadcast on CBS Television. This helped more people watch basketball, and game attendance grew a lot.

To improve the league's image, O'Brien pushed for an anti-drug agreement with the NBA Players Association. He also helped bring the NBA to cable television in 1982. This made the NBA a leader in showing sports on cable.

After he retired in 1984, the NBA Championship Trophy was renamed the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy. This was done to honor his contributions to the sport.

In 1991, O'Brien was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in his birthplace, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Key Achievements as NBA Commissioner

• He led the ABA–NBA merger, bringing teams like the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and New York Nets into the NBA.
• The league grew from 18 to 23 teams during his time.
• He negotiated the NBA's biggest TV contract up to that point in 1982.
• He brought the NBA to cable TV (on ESPN and USA) in 1982.
• He negotiated two important agreements with players in 1976 and 1983.
• He changed the college draft system in 1976.
• He introduced the salary cap in 1983.
• He helped create a fair system for free agency for veteran players in 1976.
• Annual NBA attendance reached 10 million fans during his leadership.
• Money from ticket sales doubled, and TV money tripled.
• He started the NBA College Scholarship program in 1980.
• He reached a strict anti-drug agreement with the NBA Players Association in 1983.
• He oversaw the adoption of the three-point field goal in the NBA in 1979.

Death

Larry O'Brien died from cancer on September 28, 1990. He was 73 years old. He passed away after surgery in Manhattan, New York. He was buried in St. Michaels Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts.

See also

In Spanish: Larry O'Brien para niños